Smith



E. C. MESSERSMITH.

TRIPOD FOR MOUNTING GUNS.

APPLI CAT|ON FILED MAY 20. 1916.

Patented Nov. 4,1919.

E. C. MESSERSMITH.

TRIPOD FOR MOUNTING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZO, 191s.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 oiN'rrnn srnrns PATENT orrrcn EDGAR o. MESSERSMITH, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 CYGNET MFG. 00., me, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK, n CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

TRIPOD FOR MOUNTING GUNS.

Application filed May 20, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR C. Massim- SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tripods for Mounting Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tripod which is more particularly designed for supporting an automatic machine gun on the ground or floor and has for its objects the provision of such a support which will permit of readily, quickly and conveniently mounting such a gun in its proper position on any surface regardless of whether it is regular or irregular and permit of turning the gun both horizontally and vertically to the required position for firing, and which is light and compact in construction and capable of being folded so as to facilitate stowing and transporting the same.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tripod for machine guns embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 22, Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the correspondingly numbered line in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the tripod. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, taken approximately on line 55, Fig. 1, and showing the means for adjustably connecting the supporting head with the links which connect with the supporting legs of the tripod. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 66, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken approximately on line 77, Fig. 4.

Similar characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The main support, body, or head 1 of the tripod, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 7, is preferably constructed in the form of a horizontal disk which is provided on its underside with two depending coupling-eyes or lugs 2, 3, arranged transversely side by side while its upper side is provided with a circular stud or post 4 projecting upwardly Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

Serial No. 235,519.

from the central part of the same, this disk,

eyes, and post being preferably constructed of one piece of cast metal such as iron. On its underside this head is. associated with means whereby the same may be mounted on the ground or floor at different heights regardless of whether this surface is even or uneven, so that the parts which are mounted on the head and carrier of the machine-gun can be maintained in a position for properly adjusting and firing the gun. In the preferred form of the means whereby this head is adj ustably mounted on the ground or floor, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, at, 5 and 7, the same are constructed as follows:

5 represents a rear leg arranged centrally at the rear part of the tripod and 6, 7 two front legs arranged on opposite sides of the front part of the tripod, the front legs being comparatively short and the rear leg relatively long, and each of these legs being preferably constructed of-tubular metal. At its lower end each front leg is provided with a horizontal foot 8 which is secured thereto in any suitable manner and provided on its rear part with a depending toe 9 and the rear leg is provided with a horizontal foot 10 which is provided at its front end with a depending toe 11. The feet of these legs rest flatwise upon the ground for supporting the tripod and their toes dig into the ground and serve to hold the tripod against displacement after the tripod has been set up for use. At their upper rear ends the front legs are provided with coupling eyes, 12, 13 which are arranged in a plane extending transversely of the tripod and incllning rearwardly, and the rear leg is provided at vided at its lower end with a coupling eye 17' which is arranged in a plane extending transversely of the tripod and inclining rearwardly and engages with the front side of the coupling eye 12 of the front leg 6 and at its upper end this front linkis provided by tightening this bolt.

with an upper coupling eye 18 which is arranged in a vertical plane extending lengthwise of the tripod and engages its inner side with the outer side of the eye 2 on the supporting head. The lower eye 17 of the front link 15 is connected with the eye 12 of the front leg 6 by means of a clamping bolt 19 which operates both as a pivotal connection between these parts and also as a means for clamping these parts together. When the clamping bolt 19 is loose the front leg 6 is capable of being swung laterally into the required position to secure a good footing on the ground and is then held in this position The upper swivel eye 18 of the front link 15 is connected with the lug 2 of the supporting head by means which serve both as a pivotal connection between these parts and also as a clamp for holding these parts in their ad usted position, these means consisting preferably of a stud-bolt 20 passing horizontally through the eyes 18 and 2. Upon loosening the nut 21 of the clamping bolt 20 the upper eye of the link 15 may be turned in a vertical plane for bringing the front leg 6 into the desired position after which the same may be held in place by tightening the nut 21. The coupling eye 14 of the rear leg 5 engages with the inner side of the head eye 3 and is pivotally and adjustably connected therewith by a stud bolt 22 passing laterally hrough the eyes 14 and 3, and through a tubular extension or quill 23 mounted horizontally and transversely on the outer side of the eye 3, a nut 24 arranged on the inner end of this stud-bolt and bearing against the inner side of the coupling eye 14, and a screw nut 25 arranged on the screw threaded outer end of this bolt and bearing against the outer end of the tubular extension 23, as best shown in Fig. Upon loosening the clamping nut 25, the eye 14, of the rear leg may be turned in a vertical plane for bring ing this leg into the desired position, after which the same may be held in place by tightening the nut The coupling link 16 is provided at its lower end with a coupling eye :26 which is arranged in a plane extending transversely of the tripod and inclining rearwardly and engages with the front side of the eye 13 of the front leg 7 and at its upper end this front link is provided with an upper coupling eye 57 which is arranged in a vertical plane extending lengthwise of the tripod. The lower eye of the link 16 is pivotally connected with and clamped to the eye of the front leg? by a clamping bolt 28 which permits of swinging this leg laterally into the required position and holding the same there. The eye 27 is pivoted on the quill or tubular extension 23 of the eye 3 and its inner side engages with the outer side of the eye 3 while its outer side is engaged by a clamping nut 29 arranged on the threaded outer end of the quill 23. By this means the front leg 7 upon loosening the nut 29, may swing lengthwise of the tripod to the desired position and then be held in place.

Instead of depending wholly on frictional contact between the several cooperating pairs of opposing bearing surfaces of the coupling eyes these bearing surfaces are preferably provided with annular rows of interlocking teeth 30, as shown in Fig. 4.

31 represents a turret or swivel head ar ranged above the supporting head and provided on its underside with a cylindrical socket 32 which receives the upwardly projecting post of the supporting head so that the turret may be turned horizontally on the supporting head. This turret is held against upward motion in the supporting head by means of a key 33 arranged in an annular groove 34 in the periphery of the post and provided with an opening which receives the inner reduced end 36 of a clamping screw 37. The thread of the latter engages with a threaded opening 38 in the adjacent part of the turret. When the screw 37 is loose, the turret is free to turn on its supporting head but incapable of being raised, and after the turret has been turned to the desired posi tion, the same is held in place by tightening the screw 37 which latter operates to press the key 33 inwardly against the post of the supporting head. The upper part of the turret is provided with two upwardly and rearwardly-projecting lugs 39 each of which is provided with a horizontal transverse opening 40 and on its inner side with a diametrical groove 41.

42, 43 represent two clamping plates arranged respectively in the grooves of the supporting lugs and provided respectively with outwardlyprojecting sleeves 44, 45, which engage respectively with the openings 40, 40 of the turret-lugs, as best shown in Fig. 6. The bore of the sleeve 44 is smooth while the bore of the sleeve 45 is provided with an internal screw thread. 46 represents an adjusting arm having its upper front part arranged between the opposing inner sides of the turret lugs and the opposing inner sides of the clamping plates 42, 43. 47 represents a pivot and clamping rod passing horizontally and transversely through the sleeves 44, 45, and an opening in the front part of the adjusting arm, that part of this rod arranged within the supporting arm and the sleeve 44 being cylindrical or smooth on its periphery while that end thereof within the sleeve 45 is provided with an external screw thread which engages with the internal thread of this last-mentioned sleeve. The opposite end of this rod is provided with a shoulde 48 which bears against the outer end of the sleeve 44. Upon turning the rod backwardly so as to loosen the screw connection between the same and the sleeve 45, the clamping plates will be loosened relatively to the adjusting arm and permit the latter to be raised and lowered to the desired position while upon turning this rod forwardly these clamping plates will be gripped against opposite sides of the adjusting arm and hold the latter against vertical motion relative to the turret, this being due to the fact that the clamping plates themselves are held against turnin vertically on the turret by engagement 0' these plates with grooves in the turret lugs. The turning of the rod 47 is preferably effected by means of a handle 47 projecting laterally from the unthreaded end thereof as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

49 represents a gun-saddle or adapter whereby the gun is pivotally mounted on the turret. This saddle preferably comprises a top web 50 to which the gun is secured lengthwise in any suitable manner, and two longitudinal side pieces or flanges 51 which are provided about midway of their length i with coupling eyes 52 arranged in a vertical plane lengthwise of the tripod and engaging with the outer side of the turretlugs, respectively. The gun 58 which is shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4, may be secured to the upper part of the saddle by any suitable means, for instance by means of two clamps 54, 54 which embrace the gun and have their lower parts connected by transverse screws, bolts or similar fastenings 55 with the upper part of the saddle. One of the saddle eyes 52 is journaled on an enlarged part 56 of the clamping rod 47 at one end thereof and is engaged on its outer side by a shoulder 57 on the respective end of this rod, and the other eye of the saddle is journaled on a reduced part 58 at the opposite end of this clamping rod and is held in place thereon by the head 59 of a retaining screw 60 which latter has its screw threaded shank engaging with an axial opening in the respective end of the clamping rod.

Various means may be provided for inclining the saddle on the turret for aiming the gun, the means for this purpose which are shown in the drawings comprising an upright turn-buckle sleeve 61 provided in its upper and lower ends with oppositelytrending screw threads and upper and lower turn buckle screws 62, 63, the upper screw 62 engaging its lower end with the upper end of the turn buckle sleeve while its upper end is pivotally connected with the rear end of the gun saddle by means of a transverse horizontal pin 64, and the lower turn buckle screw engages its threaded upper end with the lower end of the turn buckle sleeve and has its lower end pivotally connected by means of a horizontal transverse pin 65, with the rear end of the adjusting arm, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Upon turning the sleeve 61 in one direction or the other, the saddle together with the gun mounted thereon, is rocked either forwardly or backwardly.

For the purpose of enabling the gunner to determine the angle at which the gun is being fired, a gage index or indicator mechanism is provided which preferably com to a redetermined osition and then shifting the cylinder to the pointer preparatory to firing the gun, the pointer is movably mounted so as to be capable of rotary adjustment. For this purpose this pointer is mounted on an arm 69 which is journaled on the upper turn buckle screw 62 between a downwardlyfaced shoulder on the latter and a friction-cylinder 70 secured to the adjacent part of this screw and provided on diametrically opposite sides with two spring fingers 71 which frictionally engage this friction cylinder, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. By this means the pointer may be turned into any desired position with reference to the upper turn buckle screw and the same will then be held frictionally ,in place so that the indicator cylinder may be turned with the turn buckle sleeve 61, until the proper graduation is brought in line with the pointer and thereby facilitate aiming of the gun before the same is fired.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that this tripod is capable of being mounted properly upon any surface regard less of whether it is even or uneven by reason of the fact that the legs of the same can be either raised or lowered and the front legs can be spread apart as well as moved lengthwise of the tripod as much as is necessary and then held reliably in place by the clamping means provided for this purpose. The gun can also be turned horizontally into any desired position by reason of the rotary movement of the turret on the supporting head, and the gun can also be tilted into various angles with ease and facility by reason of the adjustable connection between the adjusting arm and the turret and the means for adjusting the saddle on the turret.

Furthermore,the structure as a whole is very compact and light and can be readily folded so as to be easily transported and stowed away in a small space.

I claim as my invention:

1. A gun tripod comprising a supporting head adapted to carry agun and provided with depending coupling eyes, and means for supporting said head on the ground comprising two front legs each having a coupling eye at its upper end, links each having eyes arranged at an angle to one another and pivotally connected with an eye of one of said front legs and one eye of said head, and a single rear leg provided at its upper end. with an eye pivotally connected with one of the eyes of said head.

2: A gun tripod comprising a supporting head adapted to carry a gun and provided with depending coupling eyes, and means for supporting said head on the ground comprising an eye arranged on said head and provided with a lateral tubular extension on its outer side, two supporting legs arranged below said head and each provided at its upper end with an eye, the eye of one of said legs engaging with said head eye on the inner side thereof, a pivot and clamping bolt passing through said head eye and its extension and the leg eye engaging therewith and provided with a screw nut engaging with the outer end of said extension, a link having two eyes arranged at an angle relatively to one another and one of which is pivoted and clamped to the eye of said other leg and the other eye of said link being pivoted on said extension, and a clamping nut arranged on said extension and engaging with the eye pivoted thereon.

3. A gun tripod comprising a supporting head, a turret pivotally supported on said head and provided with an adjusting arm, a gun cradle pivoted on said head to swing vertically, an adjusting device connecting said cradle and arm and comprising two screws pivotally connected with said cradle and arm, respectively and provided with oppositely trending screw threads, and a screw sleeve engaging its opposite ends with said screws, a graduated cylinder arranged on said sleeve, and a pointer arranged on one of said screws and adapted to traverse the graduations on said cylinder.

4;. A gun tripod comprising a supporting head, a turret pivotally supported on sa1d head and provided with an adjusting arm, a gun cradle pivoted on said head to swing vertically, an adjusting device connecting said cradle and arm and comprising two screws pivotally connected with said cradle and arm respectively, and provided with oppositely trending screw threads, and a screw sleeve engaging its opposite ends with said screws, a graduated cylinder arranged on said sleeve, and a pointer frictionally mounted on one of said screws so as to be capable of turning thereon and adapted to traverse the graduations of said cylinder.

5. A gun tripod comprising a supporting head, a turret pivotally supported on said head and provided with an adjusting arm, agun cradle pivoted on said head to swing vertically, an adjusting device connecting said cradle and arm and comprising two screws pivotally connected with said cradle and arm, respectively, and provided with oppositely trending screw threads, and a screw sleeve engaging its opposite ends with said screws, a graduated cylinder arranged on said sleeve, a friction cylinder secured to one of said screws, and an arm pivoted on the last mentioned screw and provided with friction fingers engaging opposite sides of said friction cylinder and having a pointer traversing the graduated cylinder.

6. A gun tripod comprising a turret provided with two perforated lugs each of which is provided on its inner side with a diametrical groove, two clamping plates arranged in said grooves, respectively, and each provided with a sleeve arranged in the opening of the adjacent perforated lug, an adjusting arm arranged between said c1amping plates, connecting means for pivotally connecting said adjusting arm and clampin g plates and drawing the latter against opposite sides of said arm, and a gun supporting cradle pivotally mounted on said connecting means.

7. A gun tripod comprising a turret provided with twoperforated lugs each of which is provided on its inner side with a diametrical groove, two clamping plates arranged in said grooves, respectively, and each provided with a sleeve arranged in the opening of the adjacent perforated lug, one of said sleeves having a smooth bore and the other a screw threaded bore, an adjusting arm arranged between said clamping plates, a pivot and clamping rod extending through said sleeves and arm, and having a smooth part within the smooth bored sleeve and said arm, and having a screw thread engaging the threaded sleeve and a shoulder engaging the smooth bored sleeve, and a gun saddle provided with eyes journaled on opposite ends of said rod.

8. A gun tripod comprising a turret provided with two perforated lugs each of which is provided on its inner side with a diametrical groove, two clamping plates arranged in said grooves, respectively, and each provided with a sleeve arranged in the opening of the adjacent perforated lug, one of said sleeves having a smooth bore and the other a screw threaded bore, an adjusting arm arranged between said clamping plates, a pivot and clamping rod extending through said sleeves and arm, and having a smooth part Within the smooth bored sleeve and said arm, and having a screw thread engaging the threaded sleeve and a shoulder engaging the smooth bored sleeve, a gun cradle having eyes journaled on opposite ends of said rod outside of said lugs, said rod being provided at one end With a shoulder bearing against Y EDGAR o. MESSERSMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

